I have no idea if I like this comic or not yet. Consisting of two stories taking place in 1976: Jackie Karma, an ebony and ivory kung fu cop story; and Cool, the tale of two cops taking care of simple matters involving blow, prostitutes, porn stars, and much more to come.

Jackie Karma sits on the page. The comic lays flat, never picking up, never going anywhere. The inks are too fat and instead of giving the book a unique feel everything looks a little too similar. I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be paying attention to or look at.

Which is as far opposite as one can get from Cool. Every character is unique, not once will the reader become confused. Exaggerated facial features and shades of gray so rich, you forget the book is black and white. The scenes flow like water, picking you up then dropping you into the current, switching stories for what may seem like a bit of rest only to slam you into something heavier. Then the realization comes that this is only issue 2 and its going to get even worse. Cool is a film comic. It becomes obvious where the reel changes or commercials would come in, but you’ll need that break.

Kick Ass #1
Where are we?: Kick Ass is the story of young Dave Lizewski, your average high school teenager in this world. He decides to be a superhero. Did you catch the part where I said, “this world”. Dave could live on your street, you could be his friend. He has no powers, no radioactive spider, no last son of a lost world. People don’t fly or shoot beams of energy. Everyone in the book is as normal as you or I. Dave decides to become a superhero. His reasons are best summed up by saying, “why does everyone want to be Paris Hilton and no one wants to be Spider-Man?” Well, that’s because Paris Hilton has a better publicity agent than Peter Parker. Seriously, one is a low budget porn star that has never done anything else of note, and the other saves the world on a daily basis.
Dave begins to train, he does research (reads more comics), then he promptly gets his ass handed to him. It is a brutal beating. John Romita Jr.’s art not only graphically shows the beating, but the pacing of the fight causes your heart to jump with each panel. The only thing saving the reader from going off the deep end is the knowledge that this is a flashback scene. Hints are dropped to make us wonder just how successful Kick Ass become, and who are the “others” that he speaks of?

Rating: Buy twice, once for the single issues, and again when the GN is released.

For the second time in as many events, a ShoXC bill ended in controversy Saturday at the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Calif.

In the main event of ProElite’s second ShoXC offering in just more than two weeks, Hawaiian Poai Suganuma moved up in a world full of light heavyweight prospects by defeating fellow undefeated 205-pounder Jared Hamman in 15 seconds. However, Suganuma’s stoppage win didn’t sit well with many.

The shorter Suganuma staggered the lanky Hamman with an overhand right. When Hamman appeared dazed from the shot, the Hilo native rushed him, connecting flush with a flying knee that dropped Hamman to the canvas.

As Jon Schorle moved in to halt the bout, Hamman, fighting on instinct, was able to climb to his feet. He was shocked to learn that the fight had been stopped in Suganuma’s favor, prompting a shower of boos from the crowd.

After a year and a half out of action, rising Brazilian Fabricio Camoes showed zero ring rust in destroying the win streak of Joe Camacho in their 160-pound contest.

Camoes, who hadn’t fought since his October 2006 breakout performance in which he won the one-night Super Challenge lightweight tournament, looked sharp from the outset. He quickly took Camacho to the mat and methodically pounded away. Eventually Camoes trapped Camacho against the fence and unloaded a series of punches that gave him a first-round stoppage and fifth straight victory.

After Tamai opened the bout with a Superman punch, Baszler assumed control and never gave it back. She pounded Tamai on the mat and thwarted her attempt to get the fight back to the feet.

Baszler also kneed her opponent in the face before scoring a suplex from a rear waistlock that put Tamai on her face. A TKO stoppage seemed near while Baszler unloaded punches from back control. Instead Baszler pulled Tamai back, and when it seemed as if a rear-naked choke was imminent, Baszler switched off, triangling the far leg and cranking Tamai’s neck to record a spectacular submission victory with the ever-elusive Twister.

In another battle of undefeated fighters, “The Arm Collector” Givanildo Santana lived up to his nickname against Matt Lucas. After Lucas had controlled much of the first round with his wrestling and dropped Santana with a left hand, he seemed ready to put round one in the books.

However, late in the round, Santana caught Lucas looking lazy and spun for a textbook armbar from the guard for the tap.

Stepping in for Wilson Reis on short notice, the ever-game Bao Quach authored a quick and nasty knockout of UFC veteran Doug Evans in their 147-pound bout.

Although Evans was expected to impress in dropping down to the featherweight division, the Alaskan looked anxious from the start with sloppy and desperate striking. As Evans rushed him flailing with strikes, the veteran Quach connected with a clean right hook on the temple that dropped Evans down and out at only 55 seconds of the first round.